US3958270A - Document-marking machine - Google Patents

Document-marking machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US3958270A
US3958270A US05/209,970 US20997071A US3958270A US 3958270 A US3958270 A US 3958270A US 20997071 A US20997071 A US 20997071A US 3958270 A US3958270 A US 3958270A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
printing
recording
documents
combination according
reading
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US05/209,970
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard C. Graniere
Patrick J. Marshall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Western Atlas Inc
Original Assignee
Litton Business Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Litton Business Systems Inc filed Critical Litton Business Systems Inc
Priority to US05/209,970 priority Critical patent/US3958270A/en
Priority to DE19722260312 priority patent/DE2260312C3/de
Priority to CA158,761A priority patent/CA952034A/en
Priority to FR7245233A priority patent/FR2164686B1/fr
Priority to JP47126844A priority patent/JPS4869617A/ja
Priority to IT54823/72A priority patent/IT974148B/it
Priority to NL727217349A priority patent/NL151816B/xx
Priority to GB5881072A priority patent/GB1379779A/en
Priority to CH1855572A priority patent/CH551664A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3958270A publication Critical patent/US3958270A/en
Assigned to LITTON BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC. reassignment LITTON BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: SWEDA INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CORP. OF NE.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K5/00—Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine for marking such documents with both the printed information and also the magnetically encoded information.
  • a document-marking machine arranged to magnetically encode data on the document and also print the information thereon.
  • the magnetically recorded data is read from the document to determine if it contains an error. If an error is detected, the data printing means is prevented from operating so that the document will be blank.
  • anyone seeing this blank, i.e., non-printed, document is thus at once made aware that the document should not and cannot be used, thereby eliminating the danger that an erroneously magnetically recorded document will be applied to the merchandise.
  • the invention offers the further advantage of eliminating the need for additional error - indicating printing means.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the tag web to be marked by the machine.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line II--II of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine.
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the machine.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the manually controlled settable means for selecting the data characters to be marked on the tag.
  • FIG. 6 is a table showing the different reed switch code combinations for the various selectable data characters.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical control circuitry of the machine.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show in stock web form the tags which are to be marked by the machine of the present invention.
  • the tag web 10 includes a base layer 12 and an overlying layer 14 of any suitable magnetic oxide or other magnetizable material adapted to have data encoded thereon by selective magnetization and non-magnetization of areas thereof.
  • the magnetizable layer 14 underlies an outermost layer 16 adapted to have printed thereon visually readable printed data.
  • the outermost print-receiving layer is a thin layer of any suitable material, such as paper, whose characteristics and thickness are such that the encoded data can be recorded on and read from the magnetizable layer through thenatureceiving layer 16.
  • a conventional releasable backer or lining strip 20 covers the adhesive 18 until the tag is to be applied to the merchandise.
  • the tag web 10 described above is provided with equally spaced lines of weakening 22, each transverse pair of the weakening lines defining therebetween an individual tag or label which can be torn from the web.
  • the tag web is provided with longitudinally spaced rectangular sprocket holes 24 each extending across one of the lines of weakening 22, by which the web can be fed through the machine.
  • Narrow, inwardly extending opposed notches 26 are provided at the opposed ends of each line of weakening 22.
  • suitable photoelectric sensing means senses the notches to determine the passage of each tag length past a given reference point in the machine and thereby suitably controls various machine functions.
  • the tagmarking machine of the present invention is adapted to print two longitudinal lines or channels of printed data on the outermost layer of the tag and to record magnetic data in the two upper and lower longitudinal field areas shown in broken lines and identified as 27 and 27a, respectively.
  • the magnetic oxide layer 14 as well as the other layers of the tag web, occupy the full length of width of the tag. If desired, however, the magnetic oxide layer can be in the form of discrete stripes rather one continuous overall layer.
  • the tag stock may be supplied for marking thereof by the tag-marking machine in any suitable form, e.g., as a roll or fan-folded.
  • the tag-marking machine will now be described. Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, it includes a number of longitudinally spaced base plates 29, 31, and 33 defining a feed path along which the tag web is to be fed from right to left by an elastomeric drive belt 28 having sprocket teeth 30 adapted to extend through the sprocket holes 24 of the web to feed it.
  • the sprocket belt 28 is entrained over pulleys 32 and 34 and is driven by a motor 36 which drives pulley 34 counterclockwise.
  • the tag web first passes under a magnetic erase head 38 which is always energized whenever the machine is turned on.
  • Erase head merely serves to remove any extraneous data or other undesired magnetized condition of the tag magnetizable layer 14, so as to present a "fresh" magnetic layer for the magnetic recording thereon.
  • the tag stock next passes between a photosensitive transducer, for example a phototransistor, 40 and a light source 42 adapted to illuminate the transducer through a fiber optic light pipe 44.
  • a photosensitive transducer for example a phototransistor
  • a light source 42 adapted to illuminate the transducer through a fiber optic light pipe 44.
  • the full width of the tag stock will block the light from falling on the light pipe. However, the light will be permitted to shine through whenever a tag notch 26 is encountered.
  • the resultant notch-indicating signals from phototransducer 40 consequently are an indication of passage of successive tag lengths through the machine. These signals can be used in any suitable way to control the timing of the various machine functions.
  • the tag web next passes beneath the magnetic recording heads 46 and 46a each for recording respectively on the aforedescribed upper and lower channels 27 and 27a of the magnetizable layer 14 of the tags.
  • the tag web travels to upper and lower magnetic reading heads 48, 48a, adapted to read from the tag the data which has been magnetically encoded thereon by the respective recording heads.
  • the purpose of this magnetic reading operation is to determine whether the recording means correctly recorded the magnetic data or whether the magnetically recorded data contains an error. If recording was correctly done, the tag will be printed on at the next downstream station but if an error is detected, printing is inhibited so that the tag will be blank thereby clearly indicating that the tag should not and cannot be used.
  • the printing means at the printing station comprises a number of arcuate printing sectors each having along its outer arcuate periphery different printing type faces 50.
  • One group 52 of the sectors is arranged to print the upper line of characters on the tags; and another group 52a (FIG. 3) prints the lower line of characters. All the printing sectors are mounted for rotation about a fixed shaft 54.
  • Each type sector 52 and 52a is adapted to be manually selectively or rotatably set by a keyboard for printing from any type face 50 thereof on the tag web.
  • the keyboard comprises a side by side array of keys 56, one for each of the printing sectors 52 and 52a.
  • Each key 56 is rigidly connected to its associated printing sector by an elongated key stem or lever 58.
  • Each key lever extends through and moves with itself a respective associated flexible, non-magnetic setting band 60.
  • Band 60 is constrained by suitable guide structure to slide along the path corresponding to the shape of the band as shown in FIG. 4, i.e., at its upper and lower end portions linearly horizontally and vertically, but intermediate thereof along a circular path having as its axis or center shaft 54.
  • Each band is provided with externally visible indicia corresponding to the type faces of the associated type sector 52 or 52a.
  • the desired type face character is selected for printing by moving the related key 56 up or down so that the visible index character on the band is aligned with an index line on the keyboard.
  • each printed character position on the tag a corresponding printing sector 52, 52a, and key 56 and setting band 60 associated therewith.
  • the setting of the keys 56 is also effective to condition the electric circuitry of the machine so that the magnetic recording heads 46, 46a will magnetically encode on the tag stock the data corresponding to the setting of the keys.
  • Printing is effected on the tag stock by means of an inked printing ribbon 62 interposed between the tag web 10 and the printing sectors 52, 52a, as follows.
  • the printing actuating means comprises an eccentric roller 66 rotatably driven about an axis defined by shaft 68. As the eccentric roller 66 rotates, it will cause the free ends of the two cantilever leaf springs 70, 70a riding thereon to raise and lower.
  • each setting band 60 Associated with and closely underlying each setting band 60 in a series of four conventional, sealed, read switches 78, 80, 82, 84, adapted to be energized in unique, different binary code combinations. There is a separate set of such reed switches associated with each setting band 60. Each code combination corresponds uniquely to each character setting of key 56 and setting band 60. This combinational code for selective energizing of the reed switches is controlled by a number of permanent magnets 86 carried on the underside of each nonmagnetic setting band 60. As shown in FIG.
  • the permanent magnets are so positioned along the length of the band that for any given selected set position of the band, a different combination of the magnets 86 will overlie the four reed switches and thereby correspondingly energize the latter in a different combination for each character.
  • the table of FIG. 6 shows the various binary code read switch energized combinations for different characters selectable by shifting the setting band 60 under control of key 56.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 there are 16 such different selectable character positions, but the number of characters or what they specifically are is a matter of choice.
  • the outputs of all the sets of aforedescribed reed switches 78-84 are connected to a translator 88 which converts the data which had been set on the keyboard from the reed switch binary code combinations of FIG. 6 to any other code, for example, binary coded decimal, desired for the magnetic encoding of that information on the tag web by the recording heads 46, 46a.
  • the information outputted from translator 88 is transmitted to a buffer storage 90 and also to a check digit generator 92. The latter generates a check digit based on the information stored in the buffer storage 90 in accordance with any desired check digit formula.
  • the information stored in buffer storage 90 under control of conventional recording control logic 94, controls magnetic recording head 46 to record the information magnetically on the magnetizable layer 14 of the tag web 10.
  • the magnetic reading head 48 is then read by the magnetic reading head 48.
  • the operation of the latter is controlled by reading control 93 in conventional fashion.
  • the information sensed by the reading head is transmitted to another check digit generator 96 operable to generate the check digit for the read information in accordance with the same formula as the first check digit generator.
  • the check digit outputs of the two check digit generators 92 and 96 are fed to opposite sides of a comparator 98 to determine whether the check digit generated by 92 is the same as the check digit generated by 96.
  • this lack of coincidence will cause a signal to be outputted from the comparator on line 100, and this signal is employed to prevent the printing means from operating to print on the tag.
  • the tag is printed and magnetically encoded on two spaced longitudinal lines or channels 27 and 27a (FIG. 1); and for this purpose there are provided printing members 52 and 52a for respectively printing on the upper and lower lines, there also being a separate manually settable selector key 56, associated setting band 60, magnets 86, and reed switches 78-84 for each such printing member. Also, there are two separate record heads 46, 46a and read heads 48, 48a, each pair respectively for the upper and lower channels of magnetic recording on the tag.
  • the circuit arrangement previously described is provided in parallel for the upper and lower channel magnetic heads and for the upper and lower printing control solenoids 76, 76a.
  • the components for the upper channel are designated by the previously used reference numerals, while the corresponding parallel components for the lower channels are designated by the same numerals but with the letter a added.
  • check digit comparator 98 or 98a detects a mismatch between the outputs of check digit generators 92 and 96 or 92a and 96a, that comparator sends a signal over line 100 or 100a to an OR gate 102 to which both comparators are connected.
  • the output of the OR gate is connected to the control circuitry 104 and 104a for the upper and lower printing solenoids 76, 76a, which is effective to control the solenoids, and therefore the printing operation, in any suitable conventional manner.
  • the solenoid control circuitry will cause the solenoids 76, 76a to be energized at the appropriate time, whereby the hammer extensions will be drawn away from permanent magnets 74, 74a into the path of leaf springs 70, 70a and will therefore be driven upwardly by eccentric roller 66 to cause printing.
  • OR gate 102 can also be connected to an error accumulating counter 106 effective when a given number of errors have been registered to itself output a signal on line 108.
  • the latter signal may be used in any desired fashion to suspend or otherwise control further operation of the machine.
  • the signal output of the error accumulating counter 106 may be used to control the circuitry 110 controlling the operation of the tag feed drive motor 36 which drives the tag feed belt 28, to prevent further feeding of the tab web 10.
  • the output of error counter 106 can be used for inhibiting any other machine functions.
  • check digit generated by the check digit generator 92 or 92a is not magnetically recorded on the tag but rather is inputted to comparator 98 or 98a for comparison with the check digit generated by check digit generator 96 or 96a.
  • comparator 98 or 98a for comparison with the check digit generated by check digit generator 96 or 96a.
  • the timing of the various operations, e.g., recording, reading, and printing (or non-printing) operations, to occur at the appropriate times relative to the feeding movement of the tag web can be controlled in any suitable manner.
  • the photosensitive transducer 40 senses the passage through the machine of each tag length. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the output of this transducer can be connected to the control circuitry for these various functions to control the timing thereof.
  • the output of the transducer is connected by lines 112 and 112a to record control circuits 94 and 94a, by lines 114 and 114a to read control circuits 93 and 93a, and by lines 116 and 116a to the print solenoid control circuits 104 and 104a.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)
  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
US05/209,970 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Document-marking machine Expired - Lifetime US3958270A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/209,970 US3958270A (en) 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Document-marking machine
DE19722260312 DE2260312C3 (de) 1971-12-20 1972-12-09 Einrichtung zum Markieren von Anhängern oder Etiketten
CA158,761A CA952034A (en) 1971-12-20 1972-12-13 Tag-marking machine
JP47126844A JPS4869617A (ja) 1971-12-20 1972-12-19
FR7245233A FR2164686B1 (ja) 1971-12-20 1972-12-19
IT54823/72A IT974148B (it) 1971-12-20 1972-12-19 Macchina per marcare cartellini
NL727217349A NL151816B (nl) 1971-12-20 1972-12-20 Inrichting voor het markeren van etiketten.
GB5881072A GB1379779A (en) 1971-12-20 1972-12-20 Tag marking machine
CH1855572A CH551664A (de) 1971-12-20 1972-12-20 Anhaengermarkiermaschine.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/209,970 US3958270A (en) 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Document-marking machine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3958270A true US3958270A (en) 1976-05-18

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ID=22781078

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/209,970 Expired - Lifetime US3958270A (en) 1971-12-20 1971-12-20 Document-marking machine

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3958270A (ja)
JP (1) JPS4869617A (ja)
CA (1) CA952034A (ja)
CH (1) CH551664A (ja)
FR (1) FR2164686B1 (ja)
GB (1) GB1379779A (ja)
IT (1) IT974148B (ja)
NL (1) NL151816B (ja)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027141A (en) * 1975-09-08 1977-05-31 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Apparatus for encoding a magnetic label
US4478143A (en) * 1979-02-05 1984-10-23 Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft Printer
US5628574A (en) * 1996-03-19 1997-05-13 Roll Systems, Inc. Web error recovery divert system

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3343482A (en) * 1965-04-14 1967-09-26 Burroughs Corp Automatically controlled printer for printing and coding documents
US3359548A (en) * 1964-03-27 1967-12-19 Ampex Magnetic recording and verifying system
US3651503A (en) * 1969-07-22 1972-03-21 Tag A Tron Inc System for processing merchandizing tags having printed and magnetic information thereon
US3742844A (en) * 1968-12-09 1973-07-03 Dennison Mfg Co Print wheel control system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3359548A (en) * 1964-03-27 1967-12-19 Ampex Magnetic recording and verifying system
US3343482A (en) * 1965-04-14 1967-09-26 Burroughs Corp Automatically controlled printer for printing and coding documents
US3742844A (en) * 1968-12-09 1973-07-03 Dennison Mfg Co Print wheel control system
US3651503A (en) * 1969-07-22 1972-03-21 Tag A Tron Inc System for processing merchandizing tags having printed and magnetic information thereon

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027141A (en) * 1975-09-08 1977-05-31 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Apparatus for encoding a magnetic label
US4478143A (en) * 1979-02-05 1984-10-23 Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft Printer
US5628574A (en) * 1996-03-19 1997-05-13 Roll Systems, Inc. Web error recovery divert system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2260312A1 (de) 1973-06-28
FR2164686B1 (ja) 1974-01-04
NL7217349A (ja) 1973-06-22
NL151816B (nl) 1976-12-15
JPS4869617A (ja) 1973-09-21
GB1379779A (en) 1975-01-08
FR2164686A1 (ja) 1973-08-03
CH551664A (de) 1974-07-15
IT974148B (it) 1974-06-20
CA952034A (en) 1974-07-30
DE2260312B2 (de) 1977-04-21

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: LITTON BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC., 360 NORTH CRESCENT

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SWEDA INTERNATIONAL, INC., A CORP. OF NE.;REEL/FRAME:004756/0150

Effective date: 19850620